Sunday, 17 June 2012

Book to Film Club Film: Cosmopolis

Book to Film Club June Film Selection: Cosmopolis

Our current film selection for the Movie Moxie 2012 Book to Film Club is Cosmopolis, directed and adapted by David Cronenberg and starring Robert Pattinson, Kevin Durand, Samantha Morten, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon and Paul Giamatti. The film was released nationwide in Canada on June 8, 2012 and on July 15, 2012 in the UK as well as being screened at Cannes 2012 (see international release dates here).

The film follows the high powered Eric Packer (played by Robert Pattinson), a wealthy young man in the near future with many fixations and an entire staff catering to his every desire, often to his car as he rolls around town in terrible traffic. This one is much more about tone and style over what actually happens, and although is a pretty true and literal adaptation of the book. It does have the trademark visceral intensity that we've come to know from director David Cronenberg who has brought us everything form Eastern Promises to The Brood and Dead Ringers.

Here are some things to ponder when thinking, writing and/or journaling about the film:

Did you enjoy the film?

Was the film what you expected from reading the book?

How did you feel about the tone of the film?

Were the characters what you expected?

Were there characters, moments or ideas you liked better in the book? If so, what were they?

What was your favourite thing about the book?

Were there characters, moments or ideas you liked better in the film? If so, what were they?

What was your favourite thing about the film?

Was there anything you understood more after seeing the film?

Was there anything you felt was missing from the film?

Did the film capture the spirit of the book?

Who would you recommend the book to?

Who would you recommend the film too?

Are you happy you read the book before seeing the film?

Would you recommend people read the book before seeing the film?

What was the impact of reading the book before seeing the film?

While Cosmopolis is quite a faithful adaptation, I found it to not hit the key moments that stuck out for me while reading the book. It has some a few really good performances though, Samantha Morton in particularly stood out head and shoulders above the rest for me. See my Cosmopolis book review and film review over at my YouTube Page.